Server apparatus, control method, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

A server apparatus providing a cloud print service that receives a print job and causes an image forming apparatus to perform print processing for the received print job, the server apparatus including: a first reception unit configured to receive a print job from a client terminal or another server apparatus that provides another cloud print service; a second reception unit configured to receive instructions to change setting of the print job received by the first reception unit, the instructions being given via the image forming apparatus; and a notification unit configured to notify the other server apparatus of contents of the instructions in a case where the instructions received by the second reception unit are instructions for the print job received by the first reception unit from the other server apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The technique of the present disclosure relates to a server apparatus, acontrol method, and a storage medium.

Description of the Related Art

There is a cloud print service that performs transmission and receptionof a print job between a terminal and an image forming apparatus via acloud computing system. As the cloud print service, a plurality of cloudprint services exists, such as GoogleCloudPrint (registered trademark),MicrosoftHybridCloudPrint (registered trademark), and UniflowOnLine(registered trademark).

As part of functions provided by the cloud print service, there is afunction to generate a report for a user to manage the number of outputsheets and the like. By the report generated by the cloud print service,it is possible for a user to check the total number of printed sheetsfor each month, the number of printed sheets for each user or for eachprinter, and the like.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-133489 has described a printingsystem including a client terminal, a print service apparatus, and animage forming apparatus, which are connected via a network, as a systemfor providing the cloud print service.

In the printing system using the cloud print service (also described asCPS), it is considered that the printing system is constructed bycausing a plurality of CPS's to cooperate with one another. The printingsystem in FIG. 4 is an example of a printing system that causes aplurality of CPS's to cooperate with one another. As shown in FIG. 4, aconfiguration of the printing system is considered in which in a casewhere a user inputs a print job from a client terminal by taking a CPS405 or a CPS 406 as a destination, the print job is transferred to animage forming apparatus via a CPS 404. By this configuration, it ispossible to aggregate the CPS that transmits a print job to the imageforming apparatus even in a case where a plurality of client terminalsis connected to different CPS's.

In a case where a print job that is input to the CPS 405 or the CPS 406from the client terminal is transmitted to the image forming apparatusvia the CPS 404, it may happen sometimes that instructions to changeprint setting included in the print job are given via the image formingapparatus. In this case, it is not possible for the CPS 405 or the CPS406 to which the print job is input to check that the print settingincluded in the print job has been changed. Because of this, there is apossibility that the contents of a report generated by the CPS 405 orthe CPS 406 are different from the contents of the print setting at thetime of the actual output by the image forming apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An object of the technique of the present disclosure is to appropriatelyreflect a change in setting that is made by an image informationapparatus in a report of a CPS to which a print job is input even in acase where the image forming apparatus is caused to perform printprocessing for the print job transmitted from the CPS to which the printjob is input via another CPS.

The server apparatus of the present disclosure is a server apparatusproviding a cloud print service that receives a print job and causes animage forming apparatus to perform print processing for the receivedprint job, the server apparatus comprising: a first reception unitconfigured to receive a print job from a client terminal or anotherserver apparatus that provides another cloud print service; a secondreception unit configured to receive instructions to change setting ofthe print job received by the first reception unit, the instructionsbeing given via the image forming apparatus; and a notification unitconfigured to notify the other server apparatus of contents of theinstructions in a case where the instructions received by the secondreception unit are instructions for the print job received by the firstreception unit from the other server apparatus.

Further features of the present disclosure will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining print processing using a cloud printservice;

FIG. 2. is a diagram showing a printing system having a plurality ofcloud print services;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a report that is generated in a cloud printservice;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a printing system having a plurality ofcloud print services;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining print processing of a comparisonexample using a plurality of cloud print services;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a cloudprint service;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a function configuration of a cloudprint service;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of print job information;

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining print processing using a plurality ofcloud print services;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are flowcharts for explaining processing in a cloudprint service;

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining print processing using a pluralityof cloud print services;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining processing in a cloud printservice;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a comparison example of a report that isgenerated in a cloud print service;

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining print processing using a pluralityof cloud print services;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of output printer information;and

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a printer information list.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the following, an aspect for performing the technique of the presentdisclosure is explained by using the drawings.

First Embodiment

[About Cloud Print Service]

Before explanation of the present embodiment, a cloud print service isexplained. The cloud print service is a print service that performstransmission and reception of a print job between a terminal and animage forming apparatus via a cloud computing system. In the following,explanation is given on the assumption that the cloud print service(CPS) refers to a server apparatus that provides the cloud printservice.

FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram for explaining print processing by aprinting system including a client terminal, a CPS, and an image formingapparatus, which are connected via a network. An outline of printprocessing by the printing system using the CPS is explained by usingFIG. 1. Symbol “S” in explanation of each piece of processing means astep in the flow. For convenience of explanation, the operation of auser is explained also by attaching “S” thereto.

First, an administrator registers an image forming apparatus to a tenantof a cloud print service to which the administrator belongs. Theadministrator sets which user is permitted to use the image formingapparatus among users belonging to the tenant. The tenant means oneservice system a user develops on the cloud (S101 to S102).

A user who is permitted to use the image forming apparatus inputs aprint job to a CPS from a client terminal (S103). The CPS causes astorage of the CPS to store the received print job (S104). After this,the user logs in to the image forming apparatus and the image formingapparatus receives print job information on the print job stored in theCPS (S105 to S107). The user checks print setting included in the printjob information and gives instructions to change the print setting tothe image forming apparatus in a case of changing the print setting(S108). The CPS having received a request to change the print settingincluded in the print job information from the image forming apparatuschanges the print setting of the stored print job (S109 to S111). Then,by the user instructing the image forming apparatus to perform printing(S112), the image forming apparatus acquires the print job whose printsetting has been changed from the CPS and performs print processing(S113 to S115). The method by which the image forming apparatus acquiresthe print job from the CPS may be a pull method or a push method. In acase where the image forming apparatus completes the print processing,the image forming apparatus transmits a notification of completion ofthe print job to the CPS (S116).

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a printingsystem for implementing a print environment by a cloud computing systemby causing a plurality of CPS's to cooperate with one another. In theprinting system in FIG. 2, in a case where a user is in contract withone of CPS's 204 to 206, it is possible to print a print job bytransmitting the print job to an image forming apparatus 407 within theprinting system from terminals 201 to 203. There is also a cloud servicethat provides the print service by the CPS as part of the functions of acompound cloud service having the cloud storage service, the documentediting service and the like.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a report that is provided by the CPS.As part of the functions the CPS provides to a user, there is a reportfunction to generate a report for managing the number of output sheetsand the like and provide the report to a user. The report function is afunction to provide totalization results of print history, and the liketo a user by storing the number of printed sheets and the like in colorprinting or monochrome printing at the time of print processing in acase where a notification of completion of a print job is received fromthe image forming apparatus. By the report function, it is possible tocheck the total number of printed sheets for each month, the number ofprinted sheets and the like for each user or for each printer, andtherefore, it is possible for a printer administrator to easily performprocessing, such as payment management relating to printing from thetotal number of printed sheets for each month. Further, by the reportfunction, it is possible for a user to check the current number ofprinted sheets, and therefore, it is possible for a user to performmanagement so that an upper limit of the number of printed sheets is notexceeded in a case where the upper limit is set to the number of printedsheets for each user.

[Configuration of Printing System of the Present Embodiment]

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printingsystem of the present embodiment. The printing system of the presentembodiment has client terminals 401 to 403, the CPS's 404 to 406, andthe image forming apparatus 407.

The client terminals 401 to 403 are each a client terminal from which aprint job is input (transmitted) to each of the CPS's 404 to 406,respectively.

The CPS 404 is a CPS that receives a print job from the client terminal401 and also receives a print job from the other CPS's 405, 406 withinthe printing system. Then, the CPS 404 is a CPS that causes the imageforming apparatus 407 to perform print processing for the received printjob. The CPS 405 and the CPS 406 are sometimes described as the externalCPS 405 and the external CPS 406 in this specification.

The external CPS's 405, 406 are each a CPS that receives a print jobfrom the client terminals 402, 403, transfers the received print job tothe CPS 404 and causes the image forming apparatus 407 to perform printprocessing via the CPS 404. The external CPS's 405, 406 may be connectedwith an image forming apparatus, not shown schematically, other than theimage forming apparatus 407 and in that case, they may also be CPS'scapable of causing an image forming apparatus, not shown schematically,to perform print processing without intervention of the CPS 404.

Explanation is given on the assumption that the CPS 404 takes“CompanyA.canon.com” as the tenant name, the CPS 405 takes“CompanyA.onmicrosoft.com” as the tenant name, and the CPS 406 takes“CompanyA.gmail.com” as the tenant name.

The image forming apparatus 407 is connected with the CPS 404 so as tobe capable of communication and receives a print job from the CPS 404and performs print processing based on the received print job. The imageforming apparatus 407 is implemented by, for example, a printer.

As above, the printing system of the present embodiment is a printingsystem for implementing a print environment by a cloud that causes theplurality of the CPS's 404 to 406 to cooperate with one another. Theconfiguration is designed so that the CPS that connects to the imageforming apparatus 407 and transmits a print job to the image formingapparatus is only the CPS 404. Because of this, the configuration issuch that in a case where a print job is input to the external CPS 405from the client terminal 402 connected with the external CPS 405, theprint job is transferred via the CPS 404 up to the image formingapparatus 407 that actually performs printing. It is possible toimplement the configuration of the printing system such as this byregistering the CPS 404 as a virtual printer to the tenant of theexternal CPS 405. By this configuration, the print jobs received by theplurality of the CPS's 404 to 406 are aggregated by the one CPS 404.Because of this, for example, according to the printing system in FIG.4, it is possible to manage the number of output sheets of the imageforming apparatus by one CPS that aggregates print jobs.

Each component of the printing system is connected by a network 400 soas to be capable of communication. The network is, for example, one ofLAN, such as the internet, WAN, telephone line, dedicated digital line,ATM and the like. Alternatively, the network may be a communicationnetwork that is implemented by a combination of these. That is, thenetwork 400 is only required to be capable of performing transmissionand reception of data.

[Comparison Example of Print Processing by Printing System having aPlurality of CPS's]

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing a comparison example of printprocessing by the printing system in FIG. 4 in a case where the sequencediagram in FIG. 1 is applied to the printing system in FIG. 4 having aplurality of CPS's. In FIG. 5, different from FIG. 1, registrationprocessing is omitted. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing printprocessing of a print job received by the external CPS 405.

In a case where a print job is input to the external CPS 405 (S501 toS502), the CPS 404 receives the print job from the external CPS 405 andstores the received print job (S503 to S505).

In response to the storage of the print job, the CPS 404 gives anotification of completion of the print job to the external CPS 405 towhich the print job is input from the client terminal (S506). Uponreceipt of the notification of completion of the print job, the externalCPS 405 reflects the print results of the print job in a report (S519).The processing at S507 to S518 is the same as the processing at S105 toS116.

In the print processing in the comparison example, as shown at S506, theCPS 404 notifies the external CPS 405 of the completion of the print jobby regarding the print processing of the print job as having beencompleted at the point in time of the storage of the print job by theCPS 404. After that, even in a case where the print setting of the printjob is changed via the image forming apparatus 407, in the comparisonexample, it is not possible for the external CPS 405 to check that theprint setting included in the print job information on the print job hasbeen changed. Because of this, for example, in a case where a userchanges the print setting of the print job for color printing to theprint setting for monochrome printing through the image formingapparatus and performs printing, in the report generation by theexternal CPS 405, a report is generated by regarding that color printinghas been performed for the print job.

There is a case where, as part of the compound cloud service including acloud service other than the print service, the print service by the CPSis provided. For example, there is a case where the print service by theexternal CPS 405 is provided as part of the compound cloud service. Inthis case, it is considered that a user who makes use of the compoundcloud service makes use of the report function by the external CPS 405in place of the report function by the CPS 404. To the user, a reportindicating erroneous printing totalization results and the like isprovided by the external CPS 405. Because of this, for example, there isa possibility that the user recognizes the number of printed sheetserroneously by the report provided by the external CPS 405.

Consequently, in the present embodiment, the CPS 404 receives a printjob from the external CPS and transmits the received print job to theimage forming apparatus and the CPS 404 makes a request to change printjob information to the external CPS to which the print job is input fromthe client terminal. It is possible for the external CPS to change thestored print job information based on the change contents of the printjob information included in the request to change print job information.

[Hardware Configuration]

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the CPS404. The hardware configuration of the external CPS's 405, 406 is alsothe same as the configuration of the CPS 404 to be explained below.

A CPU 601 directly or indirectly controls each device (ROM, RAM and thelike) connected by an internal device and executes programs forimplementing the functions of the CPS 404. A ROM 602 stores a BIOS andthe like. A RAM (direct storage device) 603 is used as a work area ofthe CPU 601 and also used as a temporary storage area for loadingsoftware modules for implementing the functions of the CPS 404 of thepresent embodiment. An indirect storage device 604 stores an OS that isthe basic software and software modules and is realized by, for example,an HDD (Hard Disk Driver), an SSD (Solid State Drive) and the like. Anoutput device 606 is realized by, for example, a liquid crystal display,an LED and the like and displays various kinds of information. An inputdevice 605 is realized by, for example, a keyboard, a pointing deviceand the like and receives various operations by a user. An I/F 607 is aninterface for connecting to the network 400.

[Function Configuration]

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the function configuration of the CPS404. The function configuration of the external CPS's 405, 406 is alsothe same as the function configuration of the CPS 404, to be explainedbelow. The CPS 404 has a transmission and reception unit 701, a controlunit 702, a page generation unit 703, a setting management unit 704, anauthentication unit 705, and a printing management unit 706.

The transmission and reception unit 701 performs transmission andreception of data by processing communication with a Web browser of theclient terminal 44 or the external CPS's 405, 406 that cooperate witheach other. The control unit 702 performs processing in accordance witha request received by the transmission and reception unit 701. The pagegeneration unit 703 generates a Web page for returning a response to theWeb browser of the client terminal 401.

The setting management unit 704 controls information by storing variouskinds of setting information relating to the CPS 404, information on theexternal CPS's 405, 406 that cooperate with each other, and informationon the image forming apparatus 407 registered in the CPS 404 in asetting DB 707.

The authentication unit 705 authenticates a user having requested to login to the CPS 404 by using an authentication DB 708 in which useraccount information on the CPS's 404 to 406 is stored and controls auser authentication request to the external CPS's 405, 406.

The printing management unit 706 performs control to store the print jobreceived from the client terminal 401 or the print job received from theexternal CPS's 405, 406 that cooperate with each other in a print job DB709. Further, the printing management unit 706 performs imageprocessing, such as rendering, for the print job.

The function of each unit in FIG. 7 is implemented by the CPU 601 of theCPS 404 loading the program code stored in the ROM 602 or the indirectstorage device 604 onto the RAM and executing the program code.Alternatively, part or all of the functions of each unit described abovemay be implemented by hardware, such as an ASIC and an electroniccircuit. [About print processing by printing system of the presentembodiment]

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing print job information included in a printjob. The print job information in FIG. 8 is an example of the print jobinformation included in a print job that is input to the external CPS405 from the client terminal. In the print job information, there is anarea 801 storing a job ID indicating a unique identifier for identifyingthe print job received by the external CPS 405. Further, in the printjob information, an area 802 storing a job name that is information fora user to identify the print job in the image forming apparatus 407 andan area 803 storing the name of a user who performs printing areincluded. Furthermore, in the print job information, an area 804 storinginformation on print setting including information indicating whethercolor printing or monochrome printing is performed at the time ofprinting, information indicating whether single-sided printing ordouble-sided printing is performed at the time of printing, and the likeis included.

FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing print processing of the presentembodiment in the printing system in FIG. 4. The processing in eachapparatus shown in the sequence diagram in FIG. 9 is performed by theCPU of each apparatus loading the program code stored in the ROM ontothe RAM and executing the program code. Further, part or all of thefunctions at the steps in FIG. 9 may be implemented by hardware, such asan ASIC and an electronic circuit, of each apparatus. Symbol “S” inexplanation of each piece of processing means a step in the flow. Forconvenience of explanation, explanation is given by attaching “S” alsoto the operation of a user. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing printprocessing of a print job received by the external CPS 405 as in FIG. 5.

At S901, a print job is input to the external CPS 405 from the clientterminal 402. At S902, the CPS 405 stores the print job input from theclient terminal 402.

Next S903 to S905 are steps for the CPS 404 to receive a print job fromthe external CPS 405. At S903, the CPS 404 requests the external CPS 405to transmit a print job. Upon receipt of the request to transmit a printjob, the external CPS 405 transmits the print job stored at S902 to theCPS 404 at S904. At S905, the CPS 404 stores the received print job. Inthe present embodiment, different from the comparison example in FIG. 5,the CPS 404 does not notify the external CPS 405 of completion of theprint job in response to the storage of the received print job.

S906 to S908 are steps for the image forming apparatus 407 to acquireprint job information on the print job stored in the CPS 404. At S906, auser logs in to the image forming apparatus 407. At S907, the imageforming apparatus 407 having received the login of the user requests theCPS 404 to transmit print job information on the print job stored in theCPS 404. Upon receipt of the request to transmit print job information,the CPS 404 transmits the print job information to the image formingapparatus 407 at S908.

The user checks the print setting included in the print job informationreceived by the image forming apparatus 407 and in a case of changingthe print setting, gives instructions to change the print setting to theimage forming apparatus 407. In this sequence diagram, explanation isgiven on the assumption that the user gives instructions to change theprint setting. In a case where the user gives instructions to change theprint setting via the image forming apparatus 407 at S909, the imageforming apparatus 407 having received the instructions to change theprint setting transmits a request (instructions) to change the print jobinformation to the CPS 404 at S910.

Upon receipt of the request to change the print job information, the CPS404 performs processing to change the print job information on thestored print job in accordance with the change request from the imageforming apparatus 407 at S911.

FIG. 10A is a flowchart for explaining details of the processing by theCPS 404, which is performed before the processing to change the printjob information at S911 is performed. Explanation is given on theassumption that the processing shown in the flowchart in FIGS. 10A and10B is performed by the CPU 601 of the CPS 404 loading the program codestored in the ROM 602 onto the RAM 603 and executing the program code.Further, part or all of the functions at the steps in FIG. 10A or 10Bmay be implemented by hardware, such as an ASIC and an electroniccircuit.

The CPU 601 monitors whether a request to change print job informationis transmitted from the image forming apparatus 407 and at S1001, theCPU 601 determines whether a request to change print job information isreceived from the image forming apparatus 407. In a case where a requestto change print job information is received from the image formingapparatus 407, the processing advances to S1002 and the CPU 601 performsthe processing at S911. That is, the CPU 601 changes the print jobinformation on the stored print job in accordance with the changecontents included in the change request received from the image formingapparatus 407.

FIG. 10B is a flowchart for explaining the processing by the CPS 404,which is performed after the processing to change print job informationat S911. In a case where the change of the print job information on theprint job stored in the CPS 404 is completed, at S1010, the CPU 601determines whether the print job including the print job informationchanged at S911 is the print job received from the external CPS.

In a case where the print job is the print job received from theexternal CPS (YES at S1010), the processing advances to S1011. At S1011,the CPU 601 transmits a request to change the print job information tothe external CPS (external CPS to which the print job is input from theclient terminal) having transmitted the print job. The processing atthis step is the processing at S912 in the sequence diagram in FIG. 9.In the contents of the change request that the CPS 404 transmits to theexternal CPS 405 at S912 (S1011), at least the information foridentifying the print job having the print setting to be changed and theinformation indicating the contents of the print setting to be changedare included. For example, the print job information after the printsetting is changed is transmitted.

In a case where the print job is not the print job received from theexternal CPS (NO at S1010), the processing in this flowchart isterminated without performing the processing at S1011. In this case, theprocessing at S912, S913 in the sequence diagram is not performed.

Next, in the external CPS 405, the same processing as that in FIG. 10Ais performed. That is, the CPU (not shown schematically) of the externalCPS 405 monitors whether a request to change print job information istransmitted from the CPS 404. Then, in a case where a request to changeprint job information is received from the CPS 404, the CPU of theexternal CPS 405 performs the processing at S913. That is, at S913, theexternal CPS 405 having received the change request changes the printjob information on the print job stored in the external CPS 405.Specifically, the external CPS 405 specifies the change-target print jobfrom the job ID included in the print job information included in thechange request received from the CPS 404 and changes the print settingincluded in the print job information on the specified print job.

On the other hand, at S914, the CPS 404 notifies the image formingapparatus 407 of completion of the change of the print job information.

S915 to S918 are processing in which the image forming apparatus 407performs print processing of a print job. In a case where a userinstructs the image forming apparatus 407 to perform printing at S915,the image forming apparatus 407 requests the CPS 404 to transmit theprint job for which the image forming apparatus 407 is instructed toperform printing by a user at S916. In a case of receiving the requestto transmit the print job, the CPS 404 transmits the print job that isrequested to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 407 at S917.In a case where instructions to change the print setting are given by auser, at this step, the print job in which the change of the printsetting is reflected is transmitted. At S918, the image formingapparatus 407 performs the print processing of the received print job.

In a case where the print processing is completed, at S919, the imageforming apparatus 407 notifies the CPS 404 of completion of the printjob. At S920, the CPS 404 notifies the external CPS 405 of completion ofthe print job in response to receiving the notification of completion ofthe print job from the image forming apparatus 407.

At S921, the external CPS 405 performs processing to reflect the printresults of the print job for which the print processing is completed ina report based on the print job information on the stored print job.

As explained above, in the present embodiment, even in a case where theprint setting is changed by the image forming apparatus 407, the changecontents of the print setting are reflected in the print job informationon the print job stored in the external CPS 405. Because of this, it ispossible to appropriately reflect the results of the print job for whichthe print processing is completed in a report.

In the above-described explanation, explanation is given to the methodof correctly reflecting information at the time of actual printing in areport that is provided from the CPS by updating the print jobinformation before the print processing is completed. In addition, forexample, it may also be possible for the CPS to have a function toreflect information also including the history of the change of theprint job information, which is performed before the print processing iscompleted, in a report. In this case, the configuration may be one inwhich the CPS changes the information that is displayed in a report inplace of the print job information on a condition that the changerequest is received. For example, at S913 in FIG. 9, it may also bepossible to generate a report each time in which change contents arereflected and by which the change history is known in a case where therequest to change print job information is received in place of changingthe print job information. Further, at that time, it is preferable toestablish consistency with the print job information.

According to the technique of the present disclosure, even in a casewhere the image forming apparatus is caused to perform the printprocessing of the print job by the CPS to which the print job is inputvia another CPS, it is possible to appropriately reflect the change ofsetting performed by the image forming apparatus in a report of the CPSto which the print job is input.

Second Embodiment

In the first embodiment, the print job information on the external CPS405 can be changed by receiving the print setting change informationfrom the CPS 404. However, the report results are also used for paymentmanagement in printing by receiving the number of output sheets in colorprinting and that in monochrome printing, and therefore, sometimes, thestate where it is possible to change the print job information withoutrestrictions is not preferable in terms of management. Consequently, inthe present embodiment, explanation is given to a method of notreceiving an inappropriate change of print job information by imposingrestrictions on the change of print job information. In the presentembodiment, differences form the first embodiment are explained mainly.The portions not described explicitly in particular are the sameconfiguration and processing as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing print processing of the presentembodiment in the printing system in FIG. 4. By using FIG. 11, the printprocessing in the present embodiment is explained.

S1101 to S1111 are the same as S901 to S911, and therefore, explanationis omitted. The CPS 404 of the present embodiment is different from thatin the first embodiment and does not request the external CPS 405 tochange print job information after changing the print job information onthe print job stored at S111 upon receipt of a request to change printjob information from the image forming apparatus 407. As will bedescribed later, the CPS 404 requests the external CPS 405 to which theprint job is input from the client terminal to change print jobinformation after receiving the notification of completion of the printjob from the image forming apparatus 407.

The processing at S1112 to S1117 is the same as the processing at S914to S919, and therefore, explanation is omitted. In a case where the CPS404 receives a notification of completion of the print job by the imageforming apparatus 407 at S1117, the CPS 404 requests the external CPS405 to change print job information at S1118. Even in case where the CPS404 is requested to change print job information a plurality of times bythe image forming apparatus 407, the CPS 404 requests the CPS 405 tochange print job information only a predetermined number of times. Inthe present embodiment, explanation is given on the assumption that thepredetermined number of times is one. In a case where the CPS 404requests the external CPS 405 to change print job information, the CPS404 notifies the external CPS 405 of the state of the last print jobinformation.

At S1119, the external CPS 405 performs processing to change the printjob information on the print job requested to be changed in response tothe change request. In a case of receiving a request to change the printjob, the external CPS 405 of the present embodiment determines whetherto change the print job information in response to the change requestand changes the print job information on the stored print job only in acase of determining to reflect in the print job information.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining details of the processing that isperformed in a case where the external CPS 405 receives a request tochange print job information. Explanation is given on the assumptionthat the processing shown in the flowchart in FIG. 12 is performed bythe CPU (not shown schematically) of the CPS 405 loading the programcode stored in the ROM (not shown schematically) onto the RAM andexecuting the program code. Further, part or all of the functions at thesteps in FIG. 12 may be performed by hardware, such as an ASIC and anelectronic circuit.

At S1201, the CPU of the external CPS 405 determines whether a requestto change print job information is received. In a case where a requestto change print job information is received (YES at S1201), at S1202,the CPU of the external CPS 405 determines whether the status of theprint job requested to change is “Completed”. The status of the printjob is changed to “Completed” in a case where a notification ofcompletion of the print job is received. Because of this, the processingat this step is performed in order not to receive a change request afterthe notification of completion of the print job.

In a case where the print job status is not “Completed” (NO at S1202),at S1203, the CPU of the external CPS 405 determines whether the requestto change print job information for the print job for which the changerequest has been received is for the first time. In a case where thechange request is for the first time (YES at S1203), at S1204, the CPUof the external CPS 405 performs the processing at S1119 in FIG. 11.That is, the CPU of the external CPS 405 changes the print jobinformation on the print job for which the change request has beenreceived in accordance with the change contents included in the receivedchange request.

On the other hand, in a case where the print job status is “Completed”(YES at S1202) or in a case where the received change request is for thesecond or later time (NO at S1203), the processing at S1204 is skipped.That is, the CPU of the external CPS 405 does not change the print jobinformation on the print job for which the change request has beenreceived.

The processing at S1120 to S1121 is the same as the processing at S920to S921, and therefore, explanation is omitted.

As explained above, according to the present embodiment, it is possiblenot to receive an inappropriate change of print job information byimposing restrictions on the change of print job information.

An aspect may also be accepted in which the processing in the flowchartin FIG. 12 is performed in the processing to change print jobinformation by the CPS 404. For example, as explained in the firstembodiment, the processing in FIG. 10A is performed before theprocessing at S111, but the processing in FIG. 12 may be performed bythe CPU of the CPS 404 in place of the processing in FIG. 10A.

Third Embodiment

In the printing system in FIG. 4, the external CPS to which a print jobis input from the client terminal transmits the print job to the CPS 404and the CPS 404 causes the image forming apparatus to preform the printprocessing of the print job. In this case, it is not possible for theexternal CPS to check by which image forming apparatus the printprocessing has been performed for the print job. Because of this, thereis a case where the print results totalized for each image formingapparatus are not totalized appropriately in a report that is providedby the external CPS.

FIG. 13 is a comparison example of a report in which print processingresults are totalized for each image forming apparatus, which isgenerated by the external CPS 405. “Printer name” described in thereport in FIG. 13 is the name for identifying the image formingapparatus registered in the CPS 405 and in FIG. 13, the number of pagesoutput from each image forming apparatus indicated by the printer nameis totalized. However, in the external CPS 405, the CPS 404 isregistered as a virtual printer, and therefore, the CPS 404 is not anactual image forming apparatus. Because of this, it is not possible forthe external CPS 405 to check by which image forming apparatus the printprocessing has been performed for the print job via the CPS 404. Forexample, even in a case where the print job is input to the imageforming apparatus of “Printer A” from the CPS 404 and print processingis performed. the number of pages is totalized and a report is generatedby regarding that the print processing has been performed by the CPS 404as in FIG. 13.

Consequently, in the present embodiment, a method is explained in whichprint results are reflected appropriately for each image formingapparatus in a report that is generated in the external CPS thattransmits the print job via another CPS in order to perform printprocessing for the print job that is input from the client terminal. Inthe present embodiment, differences from the first embodiment areexplained mainly. The portions not described explicitly in particularare the same configuration and processing as those of the firstembodiment.

FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram showing the print processing of thepresent embodiment in the printing system in FIG. 4. By using FIG. 14,the print processing of the present embodiment is explained. Explanationis given on the assumption that in the print processing of the presentembodiment, a request to change print job information is made after thenotification of completion of the print job as in the second embodiment.

S1401 to S1419 are the same as S1101 to S1119, and therefore,explanation is omitted. After making a request to change the print jobinformation on the print job at S1418, the CPS 404 of the presentembodiment notifies the external CPS 405 of output printer informationat S1420. Then, after notifying the external CPS 405 of output printerinformation, the CPS 404 notifies the external CPS 405 of the completionthe print job.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the contents of “output printerinformation” to be transmitted to the external CPS 405 from the CPS 404at S1420. In the output printer information, a job ID 1501, which is aunique identifier, for identifying the print job in the external CPS 405is included. Further, a device serial No 1502, which is a uniqueidentifier, for identifying the casing of the image forming apparatushaving performed the print processing of the print job, an IP address1503 of the image forming apparatus, and the like are included.

At S1421, the external CPS 405 receives the output printer informationfrom the CPS 404 and stores the output printer information asinformation that is reflected in a report.

At S1422, the CPS 404 gives a notification of completion of the printjob. At S1423, the external CPS 405 having received the notification ofcompletion of the print job reflects the print results in a report basedon the stored output printer information. Specifically, the external CPS405 performs processing to specify from which image forming apparatusthe print job that is input this time is output from “output printerinformation” and “printer information list” stored in the CPS 405. Then,the external CPS 405 performs processing for reflecting the printresults of the print job in a report by regarding that the printprocessing is completed by the image forming apparatus specified basedon the print job information.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing “printer information list” stored in theexternal CPS 405. In the printer information list, information on thedevice registered in the external CPS 405 is stored. For example, in theprinter information list, for each registered image forming apparatus,device ID, which is a unique identifier, for identifying the imageforming apparatus, printer name, device serial No., IP address and thelike are stored. That is, in the printer information list in FIG. 16, atleast information on the image forming apparatus whose printer name is“Printer A” and the image forming apparatus whose printer name is“Printer B” is stored. An area 1601 in FIG. 16 is an area storinginformation on the image forming apparatus whose printer name is“Printer A” and an area 1602 is an area storing information on the imageforming apparatus whose printer name is “Printer B”.

The external CPS 405 searches the printer information list for thedevice serial No. or the IP address of the image forming apparatus,which matches with the device serial No. or the IP address of the imageforming apparatus, which are stored in the output printer information.Then, the external CPS 405 specifies the device stored in the printerinformation list, whose device serial No. or the IP address matches withthe device serial number or the IP address, which is stored in theoutput printer information, as the image forming apparatus havingperformed the print processing for the print job that is input thistime. For example, in the output printer information in FIG. 15, thedevice serial No. 1502 of the image forming apparatus having performedthe print processing for the print job whose job ID 1501 is “1” is“dev0000001”. This matches with the device serial No. of “Printer A” ofthe devices stored in the printer information list in FIG. 16. Becauseof this, it is possible for the external CPS 405 to specify that theprint job whose job ID 1501 is “1” has been subjected to the printprocessing by the image forming apparatus of “Printer A”. In this case,at S1423, the external CPS 405 performs processing to reflect in areport by regarding that the print job input from the client device hasbeen subjected to the print processing by the image forming apparatus of“Printer A”.

As explained above, according to the present embodiment, even in a casewhere printing is performed via another CPS from the CPS to which theprint job is input, it is possible for the CPS to which the print jot isinput to reflect print results in a report by totalizing the printresults for each image forming apparatus.

In the above-described explanation, explanation is given on theassumption that the image forming apparatus having performed the printprocessing is determined based on the device serial No. or the IPaddress, which is stored in the output printer information transmittedfrom the CPS 404. In addition, it may also be possible for the CPS 404to give a notification also of the printer name of the image formingapparatus having performed the print processing along with the outputprinter information. In a case where it is not possible to find theimage forming apparatus from the printer information list even by makinga search with the device serial No. or the IP address, which is includedin the output printer information, it may also be possible for theexternal CPS 405 to perform processing to reflect print results in areport by using the printer name received from the CPS 404.

Other Embodiments

In the above-described embodiment, explanation is given on theassumption that the external CPS to which a print job is input from theclient device receives a request to change print job information fromthe CPS 404. In addition, an aspect may be accepted in which it ispossible for the external CPS to receive a request to change print jobinformation directly from the image forming apparatus having performedthe print processing for the print job.

For example, the CPS 404 performs processing to transmit “output printerinformation” in place of processing to transmit a request to changeprint job information to the external CPS 405. Next, the external CPS405 specifies the image forming apparatus having performed the printprocessing based on the output printer information and requests theimage forming apparatus for the output results of the print job. Theimage forming apparatus notifies the external CPS 405 of the results ofthe print processing of the job print. By the method as described above,it may also be possible to enable the external CPS 405 to appropriatelyreceive the print setting at the time of the print processing beingperformed finally.

Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by acomputer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computerexecutable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on astorage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processingunit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate processors to read out and execute thecomputer executable instructions. The computer executable instructionsmay be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or thestorage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or moreof a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2020-148370 filed Sep. 3, 2020, which is hereby incorporated byreference wherein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A server apparatus providing a cloud printservice that receives a print job and causes an image forming apparatusto perform print processing for the received print job, the serverapparatus comprising: a first reception unit configured to receive aprint job from a client terminal or another server apparatus thatprovides another cloud print service; a second reception unit configuredto receive instructions to change setting of the print job received bythe first reception unit, the instructions being given via the imageforming apparatus; and a notification unit configured to notify theother server apparatus of contents of the instructions in a case wherethe instructions received by the second reception unit are instructionsfor the print job received by the first reception unit from the otherserver apparatus.
 2. The server apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe notification unit does not give the notification in a case where theinstructions received by the second reception unit are instructions forthe print job received by the first reception unit from the clientterminal.
 3. The server apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thenotification unit gives the notification after the image formingapparatus performs print processing for the print job received by thefirst reception unit.
 4. The server apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising: a storage unit configured to store the print jobreceived by the first reception unit; a change unit configured to changesetting of the stored print job in response to the instructions; and atransmission unit configured to transmit the received print job to theimage forming apparatus, wherein the transmission unit transmits theprint job whose setting has been changed by the change unit in a casewhere the second reception unit receives the instructions.
 5. The serverapparatus according to claim 4, wherein the change unit does not changesetting of the stored print job for the instructions received by thesecond reception unit exceeding a predetermined number of times.
 6. Theserver apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the predetermine numberof times is one.
 7. The server apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a second notification unit configured to notify the otherserver apparatus of information for identifying an image formingapparatus having performed print processing for the print job receivedby the first reception unit in a case where the print job received bythe first reception unit is a print job transmitted from the otherserver apparatus.
 8. A server apparatus that provides a cloud printservice, the server apparatus comprising: a first reception unitconfigured to receive a print job from a client terminal; a transmissionunit configured to transmit the print job received by the firstreception unit to another server apparatus that provides another cloudprint service, the other server apparatus transmitting print job to animage forming apparatus and causing the image forming apparatus toperform print processing; a second reception unit configured to receivecontents of instructions to change setting of the print job received bythe first reception unit, the instructions being given via the imageforming apparatus; and a generation unit configured to generate a reportrelating to the print job received by the first reception unit byreflecting the contents of the instructions.
 9. The server apparatusaccording to claim 8, further comprising: a third reception unitconfigured to receive information for identifying an image formingapparatus having performed print processing for the print job receivedby the first reception unit from the other server apparatus.
 10. Theserver apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second reception unitreceives contents of the instructions from an image forming apparatusspecified based on information received by the third reception unit. 11.The server apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the second receptionunit receives contents of the instructions from the other serverapparatus.
 12. The server apparatus according to claim 8, furthercomprising: a storage unit configured to store the print job received bythe first reception unit; and a change unit configured to change settingof the stored print job based on contents of the instructions receivedby the second reception unit, wherein the generation unit generates thereport based on the print job whose setting has been changed by thechange unit.
 13. The server apparatus according to claim 12, wherein thechange unit does not change setting of the stored print job for theinstructions received by the second reception unit exceeding apredetermined number of times.
 14. The server apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein the predetermined number of times is one.
 15. Acontrol method of a cloud print service that receives a print job andcauses an image forming apparatus to perform print processing for thereceived print job, the control method comprising: receiving a print jobfrom a client terminal or another server apparatus that provides anothercloud print service; receiving instructions to change setting of thereceived print job, the instructions being given via the image formingapparatus; and notifying the other server apparatus of contents of theinstructions in a case where the received instructions are instructionsfor the print job received from the other server apparatus.
 16. Acontrol method of a cloud print service, the control method comprising:receiving a print job from a client terminal; transmitting the receivedprint job to another server apparatus that provides another cloud printservice, the other server apparatus transmitting a print job to an imageforming apparatus and causing the image forming apparatus to performprint processing; receiving contents of instructions to change settingof the received print job, the instructions being given via the imageforming apparatus; and generating a report relating to the receivedprint job by reflecting the contents of the instructions.
 17. Anon-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program whichcauses a computer to perform a control method of a cloud print servicethat receives a print job and causes an image forming apparatus toperform print processing for the received print job, the control methodcomprising: receiving a print job from a client terminal or anotherserver apparatus that provides another cloud print service; receivinginstructions to change setting of the received print job, theinstructions being given via the image forming apparatus; and notifyingthe other server apparatus of contents of the instructions in a casewhere the received instructions are instructions for the print jobreceived from the other server apparatus.
 18. A non-transitory computerreadable storage medium storing a program which causes a computer toperform a control method of a cloud print service, the control methodcomprising: receiving a print job from a client terminal; transmittingthe received print job to another server apparatus that provides anothercloud print service, the other server apparatus transmitting a print jobto an image forming apparatus and causing the image forming apparatus toperform print processing; receiving contents of instructions to changesetting of the received print job, the instructions being given via theimage forming apparatus; and generating a report relating to thereceived print job by reflecting the contents of the instructions.